 | Home page |  | Text size |
Friday, May 20, 2016
Internet speed up in Dettah
Northwestel announced in a news release this week it has tripled the Internet speed available to residents and businesses in 11 communities across the North, including Dettah.
The launch of 15 megabits per second connection speed in the communities is part of the telecommunications company's modernization plan. By the end of 2017, the release states, 46 communities across the North will have 15 Mpbs Internet service.
- Shane Magee
Council to consider Twin Pine hotel
The next step in plans by Nova Builders to construct a hotel at the base of Twin Pine Hill on Franklin Avenue takes place Tuesday at noon during a city committee meeting.
Councillors will receive information from city staff about the plans and debate whether to permit the hotel beside the Arnica Inn as a conditionally permitted use in the Old Town zoning area. Plans released for public consultation in April show a three-storey, 31-room hotel, larger than earlier descriptions of a 19-room "boutique" hotel.
- Shane Magee
Hockey challenge raises $18,000
The Memorial Hockey Challenge between RCMP and the Yellowknife Fire Department on April 24 raised $18,000 for charity.
According to a city news release, the money will be shared between Deagan Clavette, a young Hay River boy fighting a rare cell disease, and YK Cares, an organization that provides food to children in the community. The game was played in memory of Lt. Cyril Fyfe and firefighter Kevin Olsen, both of the Yellowknife Fire Department and Hay River RCMP Const. Christopher John Worden.
- John McFadden
Keep ball diamonds clear
The City of Yellowknife would like softball players to stay off the diamonds for another week or so. Dave Hurley, facilities manager for the city, stated in an e-mail that normal practice is to not open the fields until late May or early June to allow maintenance crews to work.
Hurley stopped short of telling people not to go on the fields until further notice.
- John McFadden
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Dog mushers unite
The Northwest Territories Dog Mushing Symposium is set to kick off May 22 in Fort Providence, courtesy of the Deh Gah Dog Mushers Club.
The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and includes speaker sessions from veterinarians, mushers and others.
Many of the sessions will focus on pet wellness, with segments of the day dedicated toward preventing and healing injuries, and nutrition advice.
According to the schedule, the symposium will also dedicate a little more than an hour to setting dates for the 2017 Northern circuit.
Spring concert date changed
Bompas Elementary School's spring concert date has been pushed a week, from May 18 to May 25.
According to a notice sent out to parents from principal Kelley Andrews-Klein, the Fort Simpson concert will differ from previous years and instead be turned into a carnival.
Further details pertaining to the carnival will be forthcoming at a later date, said Andrews-Klein.
Road safety in spotlight
G-Division RCMP officers were set to work with municipal enforcement and territorial partners over the past week in preparation for Canada Road Safety Week.
The week officially began May 16 and will run to May 23 as part of an annual campaign that will focus on improper seatbelt use, speeding, distracted and impaired driving, among other issues.
A news release from G Division Traffic Services cites statistics from last year's campaign, which saw more than 1,000 vehicles checked.
Of those, more than 180 infractions were noted and four impaired drivers were removed from the road.
The news release further states more police will be out on the road as a result of the campaign.
Gallery on display
Twenty-one paintings hanging at the Open Sky Gallery in Fort Simpson will take lovers of art through a visual journey based on a Tlicho legend.
The legend, Yamoozha and His Beaver Wife, was painted by Archie Beaulieu and will be hanging in the gallery throughout the months of May and June thanks to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
The gallery is open weekdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Meat wastage under investigation
Parts of a caribou and several skins were found dumped out on Navy Road late last week, according to Environment and Natural Resources officials.
"It was reported last Friday and two officers went out to investigate," said regional superintendent Stephen Charlie.
"We're developing posters and asking people in the community for assistance."
The remains of the carcass and what Charlie called "a lot" of hides were taken to the Inuvik landfill for disposal. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward and share it with ENR officers.
Thousands raised for Fort McMurray
The Inuvik Firefighters Association raised $4,106 for the Red Cross relief efforts in fire-plagued Fort McMurray, according to fire chief Jim Sawkins.
In turn, the donation was matched by town council, bringing the total to just over $8,000, which will be doubled by the federal government.
The association also donated $1,000 to each of the six families displaced by the house fire earlier this year in a housing complex in Inuvik.
Deadline for soccer camp approaches
The cutoff to sign up for the 2017 Canada Summer Games soccer selection camp is fast approaching.
Organizer Colin Pybus said June 4 is the deadline to sign up with the camp taking place June 10 through 12 in Inuvik.
Coaches from Yellowknife will be travelling to the community to get a glimpse of the outdoor-soccer players hoping to head to the national tournament, but Pybus warned if not enough people register, they will have to cancel the camp.
"We'd probably like to have at least 10 to 12 players," he told the Drum.
Players born between 1999 and 2002, inclusive, will be considered for the team, with the final selection to take place in Yellowknife at a later date.
Call put out for Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Participants are needed to help with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.
Victims' services will be hosting sessions at Jim Koe park throughout the day to help with prevention, and connect people with resources in the community. They are looking for anyone with a talent to showcase – including but not limited to drumming, dancing and poetry – to take part and share their knowledge.
| 
